Hame-fastener.



PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

A TTOHNE XS.

G. B. KOCH. HAME PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1903.

- no MODEL.

WI TN E SSE S.-

UNITED STAT S Patented December 22 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HAM E-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 747,708,dated December 22, 1903. Application filed June 24, 1903. Serial No. 162.846. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRIOK B. HOCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Freeland, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a. ne'w'and Improved Hams-Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear,'and exact description.

The invention relates to a device for con neeting the hames of a harness, especially a working harness.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple locking device or mechanism capable of being conveniently and expeditiously operated and wherein all parts of the locking device or mechanism are exteriorly located upon the hames and secured in such a manner that the hames and locking device or mechanism will not be unduly weakened, as but a single groove is made in one of the hames to which the locking device proper is applied and but a single slot is made in the body of the device independent of the necessary openings orapertures required to admit of the said body being attached to a hame.

Another purpose of the invention is to so secure the body of the fastening device to a hame that there is but little danger of the body of the device being pushed to one side while in use when applied to a heavy harness-for example, such as is used in loggingcamps--and also to provide a-const'ruction of a locking-arm which will prevent the arm from being accidentally disconnected from' its latch or keeper, and yet to provide such a connection between the two latter-named parts that the said parts can be conveniently and quickly separated when desired even when bulky gloves are worn.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

portion of one of the hames, illustrating the device applied thereto and in locked position. Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section and side elevation of the hame shown in Fig. 1 and the locking device and also a side elevation of the locking-arm of the devicein dotted lines and in released position; and Fig. 3'is an outer edge view of thehame shown in Figs. land 2, the locking device being shown in looking position.

A represents one of the hames of a pair of whereby to hold the said base or body plate 10 firmly against the outer side face of the said hame A, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Except for the apertures necessary to receive the fastening devices 11 the said otherwise unbroken or solid body or base plate 10 is provided near its upper end with a longitudinal slot 12, which slot 12 need not necessarily be very long, and back of the base or body plate 10 at its slotted portion 12 a longitudinal recess 13 is produced in the outer side face of the hame A, as is also best shown in Fig. 2. ,The recess 13 in the hame is longer than the slot 12 in the body or base plate 10 of the fastening device and extends both above and below the corresponding ends of the said slot 12, as is also shown in Fig. 2. At the lower end of the body or base plate 10 of the locking device knuckles Mare formed.

The slot 12 in the body or base plate 10 of the locking device or mechanism andv the corresponding recess 13 in the hame A are adapted to receive a keeper or latch, which consists of a shank 15, extending through the slot 12 in the base or body plate of the locking device, a plate 16 at the inner end vof the shank 15 having sliding movement in the recess 13 in the hame A, as is shown in Fig.

2, and a head 17 at the outer'eudof the shank 15, which head extends beyondlthe shank 15 in direction of the lower end of the hame, as is shown in both Figs. 1 and 2.

A locking-arm 18 is used in connection with the base or body plate 10 of the locking device or mechanism, and the inner longitudinal edge of the said locking-arm is made to conform to the outer longitudinal contour of the body or base plate 10, as is illustrated also in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the said locking-arm 18 is pivotally attached at the knuckle portion let of the base or body plate 10 by means of a suitable pintle 19, passed through the knuckles 14 of the base or body plate and a corresponding knuckle produced at the lower end of the aforesaid lockingarm 18.

An aperture 20 is produced in the lockingarm 18 at a point between its center and its lower or pivoted end, and an elongated link 21 is loosely passed through the aperture 20, which link is of sufficient length to extend to the pivoted end of the locking-arm when the said locking-arm is in locked position with reference to the hame A. The lower portion of this elongated link 21 is loosely attached to one end of a chain 22, and this chain at its opposite end passes beneath the lower end of the opposing or mating hame (not shown in the drawings) and is attached to the outer face of the said mating hame in any suitable or approved manner, so that when the lockingarm 18 is carried upward to an engagement throughout its length with the base or body plate 10 of the locking device or mechanism B the lower ends of the two hames are drawn together and are held thus closed against the collar by means of a locking engagement between the upper end of the locking-arm 18 and the latch or keeper sliding in the base or body plate 10 in a manner to be hereinafter described; but when the locking-arm 18 is released from the said latch or keeper the locking-arm drops downward to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, thus causing the chain 22 to lengthen and enabling the lower ends of the hames to separate, so that the hames may be readily removed from the collar or be placed in position thereon,as maybe required.

At the upper or free end of the lockingarm 18 a socket-head 23 is formed, which is preferably so enlarged as to extend beyond the plane of the front and the rear faces of the said locking-arm as is shownin Figs. land 3, andin this socket-head 23 achamber 23- is produced, open at the top or outer free end of the said locking-arm and at its outer side face, as is clearly shown in the drawings. The latch or keeper, comprising the shank 15,

plate 16, and head 17, is a gravity latch or keeper, being adapted of its own weight to fall in direction of the locking-arm 18 when the said arm is raised to the position shown in positive lines in the drawings. This latch or keeper as a whole is designatedby the reference-letter O.

The head 17 of the latch or keeper C is more or less curved or is rendered segmental, so that as the locking-arm 18 is carried upward to bring the two hames near together at their lower ends the socket-head of the locking-arm 18 will force the latch or keeper 0 upward until the locking-arm is in engagement with the base or body plate 10, whereupon the latch or keeper C will drop of its own weightuntil its head 17 enters the recess 23 in the socket-head of the locking-arm, thus holding the locking-arm in its locking position.

In order that the latch or keeper 0 may not accidentally be carried out of engagement with the socket head of the lockingarm 18, an offset or lug 24: is formed on the outer side face of the locking-arm 18 adjacent to or just below the recess or chamber 23 therein.

It will be observed that the looking or base platelO may be countersunk in the hame A, if desired; but even when it is attached to the outer side face of the hame, which position it preferably occupies, the locking device or mechanism is not liable to be disconprojecting boughs or other obstructions which may be within the line of travel of the ani-' mals carrying the harness. Furthermore, it will be observed that as there is but one slot in the base or body plate 10 it is not materially weakened, and the fastening devices employed may be used to the best advantage to hold the locking device or mechanism firmly to the hame.

When it is desired to separate the hames at their lower ends, all that is necessary is to lift upward the latch or keeper 0, thereby freeing the locking-arm 18, which will immediately drop to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, releasing the hames from their binding engagement with the collar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a hame-fastener, a body-plate provided with a slot near its upper end and adapted to be secured to a hame with its slot over a recess in the hame, a locking-arm hinged to the lower end of the said plate and provided at its upper end with a head having a chamber or recess leading out through the top and outer face of the head, and a latch comprising a plate on the inner face of the body-plate, a shank projecting from the plate through the slot of said body-plate, and a head on the outerend of the shank and adapted to enter the recess of the locking-arm, as set forth.

2. In a hame-fastener, a body-plate provided with a slot near its upper end and adapted to be secured to a hame with its slot over a recess in the hame, a locking-arm having its lower end hinged to the lower end of the body-plate and provided at its upper end with a head having a recess, said recess leading out through the top and outer face of the head, a gravity-latch comprising a plate on the inner face of the body, a shank projecting from the plate through the slot of the body-plate and a head on the outer end of the shank and adapted to enter the recess of the head of the locking-arm, and a chain loosely connected with the locking-arm at a point between its center and its hinged end, the link of the chain connected with the locking-arm being of a length less than the distance between its point-of connection with the said arm and the hinged end thereof, as set forth.

3. In a hame fastener, the combination with a ham'e having a, longitudinal recess in its outer side face, of a locking device, consisting of a body or base plate having a slot therein registering with the recess in the hame the slot being of less length than the recess, fastening devices for securing the said base or body plate to the hame, a knuckle at the lower end of-the said body or base plate, a gravity-latch comprising a shank, an outer head and an "inner plate, the plate being arranged in the recess of the 'hame with the shank projecting through the slot of the baseplate, a locking-arm pivoted at the knuckle portion of the base or body plate and conforming longitudinally at itsinner edge to the contour of the said base or body plate, a socket-head formed at the upper or free end of the said locking-arm, adapted to receive the head of the said latch, a rib located at the outer longitudinal edge of the lockingarm at the inner portion of said socket-head, and a chain loosely connected with the said locking-arm at a point between its center and its hinged connection with the base or body 'plate,vas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

